Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Osprey

At Read's Island yesterday morning over the high tide Wayne picked out a Buff-breasted Sandpiper amongst a 500 - 600 strong very nervous mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. The flock attempted numerous attempts to land on the south shore just to the west of Read's Island to roost over high tide but were very flighty and eventually left. The flock did fly past fairly close a couple of times allowing scope views of the Buff-breast in flight with the silvery white under wing seen well. As the tide fell the bird was eventually seen again at very long range feeding on the mud just to the west of the island amongst vegetation. Eventually heat haze and strong winds made it impossible to see the bird and no photos were possible.  In with the flock was a striking albino Ringed Plover which Wayne did managed to photo - albeit poor!

Albino Ringed Plover

  Yesterday afternoon we also managed to finally see an adult Osprey which has hung around for a few days catching fish out of a local fishing lake.